Modular assembly for covering a floor

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a series of unitary support modules ( 10 ) that arc assembled to one another to form a lower flat support that can be inserted vertically between the floor and a modular upper cover comprising a series of cover elements ( 102 ) which are affixed to the upper surfaces ( 12 ) of the unitary support modules ( 10 ). The assembly is characterised in that each modular cover element ( 102 ) is affixed to the tipper surfaces of the unitary support modules ( 10 ) using securing means ( 118, 50 ) having co-operating complementary shapes and by means o f a vertical elastic interlocking arrangement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an assembly for producing a floor coating.

The invention relates especially to a complement of the modular supportstructure of a floor coating described and illustrated in documentFR-A-2.955.601.

This document describes and illustrates a modular support structure of afloor coating which comprises a series of adjacent modular coatingelements such as slabs or boards which are fixed on the upper face of alower flat support interposed between the modular elements constitutinga floor and the ground.

This document proposes fixing the series of modular elementsconstituting the floor coating per se by fixing elements such as screwsor nails which are received in studs belonging to the platesconstituting the lower modular support structure of the floor,interposed between the ground and the floor.

The invention relates to an assembly for producing a floor coating ofthe type comprising:

-   -   a lower modular support structure which comprises a series of        unitary support modules whereof each is a plate of polygonal        contour which is delimited by a flat upper horizontal face and        which are assembled together to constitute a flat support        capable of being interposed vertically between the ground and an        upper coating;    -   a modular upper coating which comprises a series of adjacent        modular coating elements, such as slabs or boards which are        fixed on the upper faces opposite said unitary support modules.

The aim of the invention is to propose novel fastening means of modularcoating elements which for mounting, assembly and fixing do not neednails of screws.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the invention proposes an assembly of the typementioned hereinabove, characterized in that each modular coatingelement is fixed on the upper faces of said unitary support modules byfastening means cooperating with complementary forms and by snap fittingaccording to the vertical direction.

Because of this design, the positioning, assembly and placing of themodular coating elements, such as slabs or boards, are done by simplesnap fitting, that is, without use of any fixing particular tool such asfor example a screwdriver and screws.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

-   -   the fastening means comprise:        -   at least one section of fixing rail which is formed on the            lower face of each modular coating element and which            delimits two opposite longitudinal hooking grooves,        -   a series of elastically deformable hooks formed on the upper            face of each modular support element and which are arranged            by pairs of opposite hooks, said pairs of hooks being            aligned longitudinally and arranged such that the two            opposite hooks of a pair are received respectively in the            two opposite grooves of a fixing rail when the modular            coating element is fixed on the upper faces opposite said            unitary support modules,    -   in section by a transversal vertical plane, each guide rail has        a dovetail profile;    -   the lower face of each modular coating element is fitted with a        series of parallel fixing rails which are arranged according to        a regular transversal pitch, and the upper face of each modular        support element comprises several parallel series of pairs of        hooks aligned longitudinally and which are arranged according to        the same regular transversal pitch;    -   each section of fixing rail extends over the entire length of        the modular coating element;    -   the upper face of each unitary support module is fitted with a        series of positioning pins which are formed in relief and which        cooperate with associated positioning ribs protruding below the        lower face of the opposite modular coating elements;    -   each modular coating element has a regular polygonal contour,        especially rectangular, and each section of fixing rail extends        parallel to the length of its contour;    -   the greatest length of each modular coating element is greater        than the greatest length of a modular support element;    -   each support module and/or each modular coating element is made        in a single moulded piece, especially of plastic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DIAGRAMS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge fromthe following detailed description for comprehension of which referenceis made to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective plan view of a plate belonging to the lowermodular support structure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through a vertical transversal planeillustrating opposite a lower plate and an upper modular element withtheir complementary assembly means, and which are illustrated in arelative position prior to assembly;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 in which the two elements arein the assembled position; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an assembly according to anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

In the following description identical or similar elements will bedesignated by the same reference numerals.

For easier comprehension of the description and claims, the termsvertical, horizontal, longitudinal, transversal will be used asnon-limiting in reference to terrestrial gravity and the trihedron L, V,T illustrated in the figures.

The lower modular support structure 100 is of the type of that describedin document FR-A-2.955.601.

This lower structure 100 comprises a series of unitary modules 10 formaking the lower modular support structure by assembly of several ofthese modules 10.

Each module 10 is a plate of square contour whereof the general plane ishorizontal in use, that is, parallel to the ground on which it will beplaced.

Each plate 10 is delimited by a horizontal flat upper face 12 and by anopposite horizontal flat lower face 14 designed to rest on the ground.

The assembly of the horizontal flat upper faces 12 of the plates 10constitutes the flat horizontal upper face 12 of the lower modularsupport structure in terms of the invention.

The assembly of the unitary modules 10 constitutes a flat support, witha horizontal flat upper face 12, which is capable of being interposedvertically between the ground and the upper coating constituting thefloor.

By way of non-limiting example, each modular element 102 of the uppercoating is a slab or board of rectangular contour whereof the greatestlength extends according to the longitudinal direction L.

Each element 102 is in the form of a board whereof the upper face 104 isgrooved longitudinally by grooves 105.

The board 102 is of greater dimension than a modular element 10,according to its length, and extends especially over a length such thatit covers longitudinally and simultaneously several adjacent lowerunitary modules 10 (see FIG. 4).

Each board 102 is delimited by a lower horizontal face 106 from whichtwo opposite lateral ribs 110 formed in the extension of the lateraledges 108 of the board 102 extend on either side.

Each rib 110 is delimited externally by a vertical lateral face 114 inthe extension of the edge 108 then by a lower horizontal face 112capable of being supported on the horizontal upper face 12 of the lowermodules 10, in assembled and fixed position of the board 12 on the lowermodular structure.

Finally, each lateral rib 110 is delimited internally by an inclinedlongitudinal face 116 whereof the function will be explainedhereinbelow.

Centrally, that is, substantially at mid-distance 5 between the two ribs110, the board 102 comprises a central fixing rail 118.

The rail 118, in section via a transversal vertical plane, and as isevident especially in FIGS. 2 and 3, has a dovetail profile whichdelimits especially two opposite lateral grooves 120.

The fixing rail 118 is also delimited by a lower flat face 122 which iscoplanar with the lower faces 112 of the ribs 110 and which, inassembled position of the board 102 on the modular structure 100 issupported vertically on the upper face 12 of the modular elements 10.

The support vertically downwards of a board or slab 102 by means of thelongitudinal and horizontal flat faces 112 and 122 produces excellentsupport stability on the horizontal upper face 12 of the lower modularstructure.

The horizontal lower longitudinal face 122 of the fixing rail 118 isconnected on either side to each of the opposite longitudinal grooves120 by an inclined longitudinal facet 124 forming a bevel whereof thefunction will be explained hereinbelow.

The lateral ribs 110 and the central fixing rail 118 here extend, by wayof non-limiting example, over the entire length of the board 102 whichis in the form of a profile of transversal section of continuous profileaccording to the length L.

By way of non-limiting example, the transversal width of a board 102 issuch that its lower face comprises just one fixing rail 118, but withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention the board could compriseseveral parallel fixing rails distributed transversally according to adefined pitch below the lower face 106.

The fixing rail 118 constitutes one of the fixing complementary means,by complementary forms and snap fitting, of the slab or board 102 on thelower modular structure 100 constituted by the assembly of the lowermodules 10.

For this purpose, the complementary means of the lower modular structure100 here comprise a series of elastically deformable hooks formed on theupper face 12 of each modular support element 10.

More precisely, each modular support element 10 comprises several seriesof pairs of opposite hooks 50 which extend vertically projecting abovethe horizontal face 12.

Each hook 50 is in the form of an elastically deformable blade 52 whichextends overall according to the vertical direction and longitudinallyand which comprises at its upper free end a rib 56 forming a hookrespectively and whereof each is capable of being received in acomplementary groove 120, in the assembled position.

The blades 52 with their ribs 56 forming a hook are elasticallydeformable so as to constitute a pair of elastically deformable hooks,their elastic deformation produced by the cooperation of the inclinedfacets 124 of a rail 118 with the bevelled upper faces 58 of the hooks56, during the snap fitting produced by pressure according to thevertical direction and introduction of a rail 118 between the pairs ofhooks 50 aligned longitudinally.

So that the hooks 50 are not too fragile, each blade 52 is connected tothe structure of a module 10 by a transversal and vertical reinforcinggroove 54.

The relative sizing and positioning of two hooks 50 of a pair of hooksis of course complementary to the width of a fixing rail 118 with itstwo opposite throats 120.

As is evident in FIG. 1, each upper face 12 comprises several series ofpairs of hooks 50 aligned longitudinally, these series being arrangedaccording to a transversal pitch such that a module 10 can receiveeither a slab or a board 102 comprising several parallel fixing railsarranged according to the same transversal pitch, either several slabsor adjacent boards whereof the dimensions and positioning of the fixingrails are such that two parallel fixing rails 118 each belonging to oneof two adjacent boards 102 is received in a series of pairs of hooksaligned longitudinally.

Also, for easier positioning and keeping the boards 102 on the lowermodular structure 100 in the position assembled, the upper face of eachunitary module support 10 is fitted with a series of positioning pins 60which are formed in relief above the horizontal upper face 12.

Each pin 60 is delimited laterally by an inclined external lateral face62 whereof the slope is complementary to that of each inclined innerlateral face 116 of a rib 110 of a board or slab 102.

So, as is evident from FIG. 3, when in assembled position the oppositepins 60 cooperate by their inclined external lateral faces 62 with theopposite inner inclined faces 116 of the ribs 110.

Therefore, all the assembly and precise positioning of the floor coatingconstituted by the upper adjacent modular elements 102 can be done bysimple positioning and snap fitting, that is, without use of anyparticular tool.

If necessary, and in addition, and as indicated in documentFR-A-2.955.601, fixing after positioning and assembly can be completedfor this purpose by screws or nails received in the studs 30 of thelower 10 plates 5 and in the core of the material constituting a fixingrail 118, the studs 30, for this purpose being arranged centrallybetween the pairs of opposite hooks 50, that is, opposite the lower face122 of a fixing rail 118.

1. An assembly for producing a floor coating of the type comprising: alower modular support structure (100) which comprises a series ofunitary support modules (10) whereof each is a plate of polygonalcontour which is delimited by a flat horizontal upper face (12) andwhich are assembled together to constitute a flat support capable ofbeing interposed vertically between the ground and an upper coating; amodular upper coating which comprises a series of adjacent modularcoating elements (102), such as slabs or boards, which are fixed on theupper faces (12) opposite said unitary support modules (10),characterized in that each modular coating element (102) is fixed on theupper faces of said unitary support modules (10) by fastening means(118, 50) cooperating with complementary forms and by snap fittingaccording to the vertical direction (V).
 2. The assembly according tothe previous claim, characterized in that said fastening means (118)comprise: at least one section of fixing rail which is formed on thelower face (106) of each modular coating element (102) and whichdelimits two opposite longitudinal hooking grooves (120); a series ofelastically deformable hooks (50) which are formed on the upper face(12) of each modular support element (10) and which are arranged bypairs of opposite hooks, said pairs of hooks (50) being alignedlongitudinally and arranged such that the two opposite hooks of a pairof hooks (50) are received respectively in the two opposite grooves(120) of a fixing rail (118) when the modular coating element (102) isfixed on the upper faces (12) opposite said unitary support modules(10).
 3. The assembly according to the previous claim, characterized inthat, in section via a transversal vertical plane, each fixing rail(118) has a dovetail profile.
 4. The assembly according to claim 2,characterized in that the lower face (106) of each modular coatingelement (102) is fitted with a series of parallel fixing rails (118)which are arranged according to a regular transversal pitch, and in thatthe upper face (12) of each modular support element (10) comprisesseveral parallel series of pairs of hooks (50) aligned longitudinallyand which are arranged according to the same regular transversal pitch.5. The assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized inthat each section of fixing rail (118) extends over the entire length ofthe modular coating element (102).
 6. The assembly according to any oneof the previous claims, characterized in that the upper face of eachunitary support module (10) is fitted with a series of positioning pins(60) which are formed in relief and which cooperate with associatedpositioning ribs (110, 116) protruding below the lower face (106) of themodular coating elements opposite.
 7. The assembly according to any oneof claims 2 to 6, characterized in that each modular coating element(102) has a regular polygonal contour, especially rectangular, and inthat each section of fixing rail (118) extends parallel to the length ofits contour.
 8. The assembly according to the previous claim,characterized in that the greatest length of each modular coatingelement (102) is greater than the greatest length of a modular supportelement.
 9. The assembly according to any one of the previous claims,characterized in that each support module and/or each modular coatingelement is made in a single moulded piece, especially of plasticmaterial.